Big Idea: The grace we receive from God becomes the grace we release to others. The gospel is most visible when grace becomes action. 1. Restore One Another with Grace 1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians 6:1 (NLT2) 15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV) → “People grow best where grace is stronger than shame.” 2. Carry One Another's Burdens 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Galatians 6:2-5 (NLT2) → The church was never meant to be a place where people carry burdens alone. 6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:6-10 (NLT2) 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) → “The seeds of faithfulness you plant today become the harvest God brings in His proper time.” 3. Boast in the Cross and Keep Following Jesus 11 NOTICE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE THESE CLOSING WORDS IN MY OWN HANDWRITING. 12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. 13 And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples. 14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. 17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. 18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Galatians 6:11-18 (NLT2) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) → “The cross reminds us that our worth is not found in what we achieve but in what Christ achieved for us.” Ask God: “Show me one way to put grace into action this week.” Next Right Step: Encourage someone who is struggling. Carry a burden for someone through prayer or practical help. Reach out to a person who has drifted from church or faith. TALK IT OVER Welcome & Opening Prayer Take a few minutes to reconnect and share something God has been teaching you through the Galatians series. Icebreaker Think about a time when someone helped you during a difficult season. What did they do that made a difference? Transition: One of the clearest ways we experience God's grace is through other people. In Galatians 6, Paul shows us what grace looks like when it is put into action. Big Idea: The grace we receive from God becomes the grace we release to others. Read the Passage Together: Galatians 6:1-18 Invite different members of the group to read a few verses. Family Questions (Kids & Parents) What should we do when someone is having a hard time? Parent Help: We can help them, pray for them, encourage them, and remind them that God loves them. Key Verse: Galatians 6:2 Why is it important to be kind and gentle with people who make mistakes? Parent Help: Because God is kind and patient with us when we make mistakes. Key Verse: Galatians 6:1 What is one way you can help someone this week? Family Application: Let each family member choose one person they can encourage, pray for, or help this week. Teen & Adult Discussion What stood out most to you from Sunday's message? Paul tells believers to restore one another gently (Galatians 6:1). Why is gentleness so important when helping someone who has fallen into sin or made poor choices? What is the difference between restoring someone and judging someone? How can Christians speak truth while still showing grace? Paul says, “Carry each other's burdens” (Galatians 6:2). What kinds of burdens are people carrying today? Follow-Up How can our church become a place where people feel safe asking for help? Paul encourages believers not to grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Why is it sometimes difficult to keep serving, loving, and helping others? What helps you remain faithful? Paul says, “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). What are some examples of sowing to the Spirit versus sowing to the flesh? Paul concludes by boasting only in the cross (Galatians 6:14). Where are people tempted to find their identity and worth today? How does the cross reshape our identity? Ask yourself: o Is there someone I need to restore gently? o Is there a burden I need help carrying? o Have I grown weary in doing good? o Am I finding my identity in Christ or something else? Write down one practical way you can put grace into action this week. Prayer Time Pray for a grace-filled church community.